Favela Tourism: visiting Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Praça Cantão (Cantao Square), well-known for its colorful houses as part of he Favela Painting Project of Hass and Hahn. Photo copyright Nohelia Sanchez / www.rdj4u.com for www.TravelBoldly.com

Visiting the Favela or Shantytown of Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by Nohelia Sanchez

I've been to Rio many times, the first time being in 1999, when I was scared at the very thought of entering a favela. However, several years have passed since then, and seen the pacification of many favelas in Rio. I have to confess that even so I was skeptical about taking a favela tour. I'm originally from Colombia, a country with no fewer social problems than Brazil, and I was lucky enough to be able contribute to different types of social projects from different perspectives there. I think one has to try some things themselves in order to obtain more knowledge of a particular subject, so I decided to visit Favela Santa Marta and try out a guided tour through a pacified slum in Rio.

Santa Marta favela has an impressive view of the Corcovado 

and Rio's exotic nature.

The first thing I learned is that everything depends on the view of the traveler. I saw a lifestyle that has a lot to do with the way Brazilians are, not because of their infrastructure conditions, but because of their personalities: their friendliness, their relaxed style and their happiness despite all their problems. Cariocas are full of kindness and charisma.

Favela Santa Marta is located on the hills between Botafogo and Laranjeiras, two medium-high class neighboorhoods in the Zona Sul. The favela tour that took us there began with a short trip through Tijuca, Forest, where we had the chance to see wonderful views of Rio. No amount of admiring Rio’s beauty is ever enough.

First impressions of Santa Marta favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

We started from above, where we had a commanding view over the favela with its little houses, Corcovado and the famous beaches of Copacabana & Ipanema in the Zona Sul. The first thing we noticed were a cable car that had recently been built in order to facilitate transportation within the favela, and a wall with gunshot scar from the time when crime prevailed in the neighborhood. It was in 2008 that the police took control of the favela and placed what is called a Pacified Police Unit there. Still, having such a tangible image of the gunshot scar gave me a sensation of vulnerability mixed with helplessness. I could not fathom what had happened on these streets and knew that it was likely I’d never find out.

I was very curious about how the inhabitants of the favela would receive the tour especially after

reading all the forum posts about favela tours. I

A colorful wall with bullet holes welcomes visitors to the
Santa Marta Favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

believe the resident's of the favelas were just as curious about us as we were about them. Especially the kids, who seemed very used to receiving visitors. I felt almost invisible. We were very respectful and tried not to be too intrusive, after all, it was a walking tour like any other, whereby you visit and admire their way of life, their communal areas, and learn about  their customs. Visiting the favela made me admire their strength, and made me realise that those who have so much more appear to do far less with their lives. We visited the community centre and met with some of its leaders. They explained how they work with the community and about the challenges and the accomplishments of those living in this favela. I then realized that no matter how few resources you have, with the right amount of help, effort and positive ambition, you can achieve your goals.

Santa Marta’s narrow streets: many stairs and 

small windows in the favela.

After this cultural experience I can say that the most exciting moment for me was seeing the wall Michael Jackson signed when he recorded the video for They Don't Care About Us and the statue which was put up a year after the singer died. To me this was a sign that Michael was seen as a ‘king’ in Rio too.

We continued our favela tour through the narrow streets to reach Praça Cantão (Cantao Square), well-known for its colorful houses as part of the Favela Painting project of Haas & Hahn. These two Dutch artists had the idea of creating public works of art in the favelas in Rio. The project was carried out with the participation of the community’s youth. It is now the centre of the social and commercial activity of the favela. We also had the chance to visit also their samba school Mocidade Unida do Santa Marta, which is located at the base of the favela.

With many thoughts in our heads and newly embraced feelings in our hearts our driver picked us up at the entrance of the favela to return us to our our unreal hotel reality in Rio.

Nohelia Sanchez poses with a statue of
Michael Jackson in Santa Marta Favela
 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Happy travels!
Nohelia Sanchez / www.rdj4u.com

Defying the Sand Thieves or How Not to Get Robbed Photographing on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A composite of images of Maisa Soares Silva modeling on Copacabana & Ipanema Beach
 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: copyright Jerome Shaw / http://www.JeromeShaw.com

A photo composite of some of my favorite images of Maisa on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. She is a very natural model as well as a lovely person. The background image is of the sunrise in a grove of palm trees just off the boardwalk in the center of Copacabana Beach.

But for the personal relationship we made with one of the beach chair and umbrella vendors this photo shoot might not have turned out so well.  As I was making these photographs early one morning I heard Gustavo calling out to me from yards down the beach – he was excitedly waving his arms and gesturing.  I thought it a bit odd that he was so friendly at that time of the morning. He surely knew we were not in the market for beach chairs and beer.  I put down to him being friendly and went on photographing.

Maisa Soares Silva on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro,
 Brazil. Photo: copyright Jerome Shaw / http://www.JeromeShaw.com

It was not until some time later when we were in the market for beach chairs that the full scope of the event became apparent to me. Gustavo had spied a group of well known (well known at least to him) “sand thieves” that work Copacabana beach robbing tourists of their possessions. He called out to us not so much to wish us a good morning as to alert the “sand thieves” that we were one of his friends/customers and that he was watching and watching out for us. Unbeknownst to us we were under his protective custody while we were on ‘his’ beach.

All I can say is – it pays to make friends when you are traveling.  I make it a priority to find a coffee shop, a bar, a restaurant, and in this case a beach chair guy when I get to new destination.  For the most part I just like developing a familiar place in the midst of so many unfamiliar surroundings.  It is nice to see a smile of recognition when you walk into the bakery each morning to buy your coconut bread or in the corner shop when the clerk helps you with the word for pasts (massa) because he remembered that the last time you were in you couldn’t remember it either.

In this case developing a go to guy on the beach helped me keep my camera equipment.


These photos was taken with Nikon F100 & FG film cameras using Nikkor lenses from 20mm to 400mm. The film used for this image is Fujicolor Superia 200, the exposures vary. The photos were taken in early morning light.

Tram to the top of Sugarloaf / Pao de Azucar - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The tram to the top of Sugarloaf / Pao de Acucar , the majestic peak that rises 1300 ft./ 400 m above Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  --- Cidade Maravilhosa. Praia Vermelha / Red Beach is visible in the lower right and Copacabana Beach in the center left to the upper right.

Tram to Sugarloaf

by Jerome Shaw

The tram up Sugarloaf / Pao de Acucar takes visitors to the top of the majestic peak that rises above Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This 1300 foot/ 400 meter granite peak is thought to be millions of years old. And, there is no question that Sugarloaf is one of the most marvelous sights in the Cidade Maravilhosa and provides inspiring views of Rio. In the photo above you see the Praia Vermelha / Red Beach in the lower right and Copacabana Beach, sweeping in a crescent from the center left to the upper right.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most geographically blessed cities on the planet and Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most recognizable visual assets of Brazil's second largest city. From the top of Sugarloaf you can see almost every one of the nearly 12 million people in the photogenic megalopolis (Six million people live in Rio proper.)

The original cable car system was conceive in 1907 by the Brazilian engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos. In 1910 Ramos founded the Society of Sugarloaf and work began on the monumental project, with much of material having to be hauled up the steep terrain by mountain climbers. The tram opened in 1912 with painted wooden cars.  These cars were used for 60 years until 1972 when the system was completely rebuilt.  The cars have been periodically upgraded over the last few years with more modern cars. The last major renovation coming in 2008 and 2009 prior to the 100 anniversary of the legendary tram that was once featured in the 1979 James Bond movie Moonraker, in which the evil villain Jaws (Richard Kiel) tries to kill 007 (Roger Moore) and Dr. Hollie Goodhead (Lois Chiles.)

The tram trip ot the top of Sugarloaf is separated into two 3-minute sections.  The first section begins at Praia Vermelha / Red Beach and rises to the top or Morro da Urca / Urca Hill at an altitude of 720 feet / 220 meters. The midway point features a restaurant, a café, a snack bar, souvenir shops, and a play area for kids. Take some time here to shoot a few photos especially of downtown Rio and watch the airplanes landing at the Santos Dumont downtown airport. While the views on top of Sugarloaf are monumental the view of downtown is a better photo from the top of Urca Hill. From the top of Sugarloaf you'll see the famed beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Tijuca Forest, the world's largest urban forest and Corcovado Mountain, featuring the Christ the Redeemer statue.

You should plan on at least four hours for your trip up and back on the Sugarloaf Mountain tram. The cars leave the base station every half hour between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. so consider a late afternoon trip to the top for a spectacular sunset and night time views of Rio de Janeiro. The cost for adults is approximately US$25, depending upon the exchange rate, with kids tickets going for about half that.

The tram is not the only way to reach the summit of Sugarloaf, whose name was coined by Portuguese inhabitants in the 1600s. They named the peak Pao de Acucar for its resemblance to a loaf of refined sugar, which at the time was one of the areas chief exports. Hiking up the mountain on the rear side is possible for the intrepid. The route is challenging and some climbing is required. Another caveat is that tickets for a downhill ride are not available at the top of Sugarloaf so plan ahead and buy a ticket for the decent in advance.

~~~

This images is copyrighted and may not be used, reposted, or reproduced without direct written permission. Please feel free to share the image on Pinterest and Facebook.

Jerome is the founder and editor of Travel Boldly. He was a commercial photographer in Aspen, Boulder and Denver, Colorado for 30 years. His adventures in travel began helping his father Ernest deliver J. I. Case tractors all over Southwest Nebraska, Northwest Kansas and Northeast Colorado. You can find him on Twitter and Google+

“ Why Is That Guy Taking My Photo?” Horse cart Jardim Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Why Is That Guy Taking My Photo?”

The movement of goods by horse power is quite common in Jardim Redentor and other parts of Brazil. While I cannot recall seeing horses drawn delivery vehicles in Copacabana or Ipanema I did see many bicycle and motorcycle delivery vehicles. Perhaps this method of travel will reinvent itself in the US now that gas prices are rising toward international levels. Perhaps the US economy will truly have to join the rest of the world with what some might call a step backwards but what I’'d call progress... economic and environmentally friendly delivery methods.

A horse cart whizzes down the street in the Northwestern suburb of Rio de Janeiro moving at a surprisingly quick clip.  I swing in a panning motion to capture this moment. The driver of this cart ponders what could be so interesting about a passing horse cart that it would merit such an overt action and a photograph. His expression tells a lot about the cultural divide that exists from one part of the world to another. I hope this divide never fully closes.

The photo was taken with a Nikon F100 film camera using a 400mm f 4.5 Nikkor lens. The film used for this image is FujiPress 800. The approximate exposure is f 8 @ 1/250th second.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, reposted, or reproduced without direct written permission.

Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 

Copyright Jerome Shaw 2005 / www.JeromeShaw.com 

Brazil Butts - Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Americans maybe obsessed with breasts but in Brazil, butts are king.  Though, well cleaved breasts are a close second. Rio is a very sensuous place to photograph and presumably to live.

Brazilian Butts

Photographing in Brazil was like a "day at the beach" for me.

While going topless on public beaches in Brazil is not common, the wearing of thongs and floss bikinis is de rigueur.  Brazilian girls and women proudly display their derrières, whether well-formed or not. You can certainly spot the the local gals on the beach as differentiated from most of their North American tourist sisters by their "granny panty" bikinis.

Are you brave enough to wear a Brazilian Bikini?  This question applies to the guys as well.  As opposed the long baggy shorts the gentleman in this photo is sporting, many Brazilian males wear a straight-leg cut and very brief, brief-style swim trunks at the beach.  Men's trunks in Brazil are not dissimilar from the Speedo-style swim trunks sometimes referred to as banana hammocks or budgie smugglers. Thankfully (in my opinion) thongs are not commonly worn by men on Brazilian beaches as in this photo.

Butts are king in Brazil.  Brazil even exports a video exercise series to the USA just to emphasize the notion that a large, well-rounded backside is the key to a woman's happiness and by extension that of her man's.

Brazil has given the world many amazing inventions, innovations and products over the years from cashews to açaí na tigela / açaí berry ice to Cachaça. Brazil has transformed musical tastes with the Samba. Bossa Nova and Forró.  Yet, it seems that some of the most impressive items Brazil has contributed to world culture come in the form of items that relate in some way to the feminine form.

The Brazilian wax is one of the most notorious. The Brazilian bikini is another - which came first the bikini or the wax?  Now they give us the exercise regime that creates the overly plump posteriors so prized in Brazil.

Don't worry be happy. Get your Brazilian butt exercise program on DVD or BluRay via late night TV.

Ladies, if you were vacationing in Brazil would you wear a Brazilian bikini?  Do you prefer men in the long baggy shorts or would you like to see your man in the Brazilian trunks?  I hesitate to ask the guys for any comments on this photo but, guys are you in favor of Brazilian bikinis and butts?  Does size matter?

Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 

copyright Jerome Shaw 2005 / www.jeromeshaw.com

The History of My Travel Wish List

Brazil is one of the candidates for my 2013 Travel Wish List.  I'd love to go
and visit Jennifer and Beatriz in Jardim Redentor near Rio de Janeiro.
I'd also like to visit Belem, Fortalezza, Salvador and Florianopolis.

A couple decades or more ago during the work-lull between Christmas and New Year's Day I began making up a travel wish list. It was most often scribbled on a scrap of paper that I tucked in my desk drawer. In most years I never looked at it again until the next year when it was time make up a new wish list. It was my adult version of a letter to Santa Claus, dutifully filled out but never mailed. Even so, in most years, I'd always get to cross at least one destination off my wish list.

Then one year Sally McKinney, a writer I worked with as a photographer, casually asked me where I'd like go on assignment in the coming year. I did a mental review of the travel wish list tucked in my desk drawer and came up with Hawaii, Montana, Russia, Brazil and half dozen other places that consistently fascinated me. The reasons the locations made my list were varied and random. Montana was the only state in West I hadn't visited and Hawaii was a placed I'd been many times but knew it had much more to offer than I'd so far discovered.  I'd been drawn to Russia since my childhood because my brother had studied Russian in college and Russia's featured prominently in my childhood consciousness as our Cold War nemesis. Brazil was a new fascination, though the Amazon River caught my attention during a movie titled "The Pirates of Blood River" that featured prominently in my nightmares well into my adult life.

My #TravelWishList posts:

                    Part one - The History of My Travel Wish List and The Candidates 
                    Part two - 13-4-’13 - Thirteen Places To See
                    Part three - Six Islands I’d Swim To
                    Part four - Six Places In The US That Are Calling My Name 
                    Part Five - Six Places I’ve Been But want to Go To Again
                    Part Six  - My Favorite Places in Colorado And The Neighboring States

I noticed that something amazing happened over the next 2-3 years. First Sally called to ask me if I''d like me to photograph for her in Hawaii for a food & wine article. Then 6 months later the annual trips Montana for newspaper articles began, the first about the Robert Redford movie "A River Runs Through It." Soon she asked me to collaborate on whitewater rafting story in Costa Rica. Costa Rica wasn't even on my wish list but I an not dogmatic about these things, I am pretty flexible about my list which is good because the company I worked with in Costa Rica hired me the next year to go Russia for them and another company saw my images from Russia and hired me to photograph their river cruise in Ukraine.  

Of course there were several assignments that weren't on my wish list but they should have been, places like Finland and South Beach, Florida that should have been on that list and return visits Alaska and New Mexico. There were many minor successes along the way. I crossed off all but 3 US states from my travel list and got the opportunity photograph the Sandhill Crane migration in my home state of Nebraska and to take a llama tour in my adopted home state of Colorado.

A couple years later Sally called with a 10-day assignment in Brazil. In one of the saddest, most regretted decisions if my travel life I turned this job over to an associate because I already had a better paying gig in Colorado. Be forewarned: don't mess with the TravelWishList gods because it took me nearly 10 years to get another opportunity to travel to Brazil. 

You might have thought I'd be bright enough to see the connection between sharing my wish list with Sally and higher incidence of hits in my list but I guess I am a liiiitttllle sssslllooooow. I put it down to Sally simply being aware of my preferences and nothing more. 

The Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia along
with Tahiti and Bora Bora are candidates for my
Travel Wish List.

I pretty much went back to putting my wish list in the desk drawer, keeping my travel dreams to myself. That was until Twitter caught my attention in 2009. For some unknown reason I began sharing snippets of my desk drawer list in tweets. But this time I saw the global significance of casting my #TravelWishList to the winds and waiting for the travel gods to hear my travel prayers. 

Now this year I am codifying it and sharing it far and wide. I am breaking it down into 13-4-'13 top travel destinations for this year. I'm also listing 6 islands and 6 places in the US that I have never visited. So that makes 25 places. As a bonus I'm listing 6 places I have already visited but long to visit again. Plus  a list of a few places in Colorado and neighboring states that are my favorites and one place in Colorado, that 35 years after moving here, I have yet to visit.  

Here is the list of candidates (in alphabetical order) that I came up with from which my Travel Wish List is selected. 

Are your favorites on the list? 

Alaska Antarctica Argentina Austria Azores Bali Bhutan Bora Bora Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Canada Canary Islands Chile Cuba Costa Rica Easter Island Egypt England Estonia France Fiji Islands  Galapagos Islands Greece Guam Iceland India Ireland Italy Jordan Kamchatka Peninsula Kenya Kyrgyzstan Madagascar Maldives Marquesas Islands Mauritius Mexico Mongolia Morocco Myanmar Nepal New Zealand Norway Panama Papua New Guinea Peru Portugal Romania Russia Seychelles Islands South Africa Spain Sumatra Sweden Switzerland Tahiti Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Thailand Tibet Togo Turkey Venezuela 

Curious facts:  There were no places on my list that started with D, H, L, O, Q, U, W, X, Y, or Z.  Do you have recommendations that begin with these letters?

The letter with the most destinations in "T" with seven.  "S" is second with six. 

Eleven are in the Pacific and fourteen on the Pacific Rim.  North America had the fewest locations with 3 but if you count the Caribbean you get 6 and what continent is Iceland associated with anyway? Seventeen are in Europe. Seven are part of South America. Nine are in Asia.  Two are in Central America.  Eight are in Africa.  Twenty-two are islands.

My #TravelWishList posts: 

Part one - The History of My Travel Wish List and The Candidates   

Part two - 13-4-’13 - Thirteen Places To See

Part three - Six Islands I’d Swim To 

Part four - Six Places In The US That Are Calling My Name 

Part Five - Six Places I’ve Been But want to Go To Again 

Part Six  - My Favorite Places in Colorado And The Neighboring States

Please share your Travel Wish List in the comments.

#Alaska #Antarctica #Argentina #Austria #Azores #Bali  #Bhutan #BoraBora #Botswana #Brazil #BritishVirginIslands #Canada #CanaryIslands #Chile #Cuba #CostaRica #EasterIsland #Egypt #England #Estonia #France #Fiji #Islands #Galapagos Islands#  #Greece #Guam #Iceland #India #Ireland #Italy #Jordan #Kamchatka Peninsula #Kenya #Kyrgyzstan #Madagascar #Maldives #MarquesasIslands  #Mauritius #Mexico #Mongolia #Morocco #Myanmar #Nepal #NewZealand #Norway #Panama #PapuaNewGuinea #Peru #Portugal #Romania #Russia #Seychelles Islands #SouthAfrica #Spain #Sumatra #Sweden #Switzerland #Tahiti #Tanzania #Trinidad and #Tobago #Thailand #Tibet #Togo #Turkey #Venezuela

"Thoughtful Grey Hair" -Jardim Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

One of the many scenes of daily life in the town of Jardim Redentor near Rio de Janeiro Brazil. 

Thoughtful Grey Hair

I enjoyed photographing in Jardim Redentor perhaps more than any where else during this my first visit to Brazil. Jardim Redentor is a Northwestern suburb of Rio de Janeiro a bit past the end of the Northern metro train line.

I enjoyed documenting the small moments of daily life in this rather large "small town."  Rio de Janerio is so very large with over 12 million people in the metro region. While part of this immense city, Jardim Redentor has all the qualities of a small town. I loved seeing life lived out in the open and on the streets.

I made a few photos of this thoughtful man with grey hair against this colorful background of empty beer crates, water bottles, and bags of what I guessed to be charcoal. Another of the ordinary moments of life in Jardim Redentor. This photo was made with a Nikkor 400mm lens both to capture a candid moment and to compress the space.  The photograph was made on transparency film then scanned to a digital file.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.

Contact Jerome at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 

copyright Jerome Shaw 2005-2013 / www.jeromeshaw.com

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"Proud Smile" Jardim Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event."~Henri Cartier-Bresson

"Proud Smile"

I was out one day in Jardim Redentor walking along the main street. I noticed a woman in a beauty parlor.  She noticed me noticing her and smiled shyly. I asked Maisa to speak to her and ask her if I could take her photo. She was shy and reluctant at first. She and the other women in the shop had a good laugh and she wondered "why did I want to take her photo?" I told her she was a very beautiful woman, her hair looked so good, and she had such a nice face. She relented.

She came out into the street where the light was better.  I took three photos.. In the first she was very grim. In the second I managed to make her smile but she over smiled with forced nervousness in her eyes. However just fractions of a second after the forced smile the third frame was exposed. Her smile had softened slightly and her eyes had more warmth. A small and subtle difference but very noticeable.

I am sorry that I did not note her name. Though as we walked away Maisa told me that by asking for her photo I had made her day. She was extremely proud that I had asked to make her photo, Maisa said she will likely be smiling about this moment for weeks.

I was glad to give her this moment for she gave me a very nice moment too. I felt a warmth as we continued walking down the street. And, I revisit this warm feeling each time I see this photo.

Condensed Caption

"Proud Smile"
While on a walk along the main street in Jardim Redentor
I saw this woman in a beauty parlor. Coaxed out from the
shadows for a photo, she gives me a proud smile.


Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 


copyright Jerome Shaw 2005 / www.jeromeshaw.com

"Papayas" Bairro Peixoto Market, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Standing sentry, the two shards of papayas glow with freshness in the market at
Bairro Peixoto in Copacabana.

"Papayas"

One of my favorite things to do was to go to the open air markets that were held in Copacabana not far from our apartment each Sunday and Wednesday. The market at Bairro Peixoto, held on Wednesday, was by far my favorite. Even in only the month that I was in Brazil, I began to know some of the market vendors. Or more precisely, I think it is fair to say, they began to know me, at least by sight. I always went to the market with my cameras. I stuck out like a sore thumb even without the tangle of photo gear twisted around my neck, but being towed around the market by Maisa I became even more noticeable.

I was forever being offered samples of papaya, mango, jackafruit, banana, and other fruits I often did not recognize. By the time I had circled the square I had a nice snack. It was not just a friendly gesture, as they were vying to curry favor with me for their products. They did this even knowing that it was not I but Maisa that was doing most of the shopping.

A trip to this market was a great treat for the taste buds and for the eyes. Many of my favorite photos from my time in Rio de Janeiro came from these forays to the open air markets. I did develop my favorite vendors and began to discern between the better and the best of them.

Now that I am back in Colorado I can barely tolerate the bananas we have here and I long for freshly made mango juice and a cold slice of papaya with my coco bread for breakfast.

Condensed Caption
"Papayas"

Standing sentry the two shards of papayas glow with freshness in the market at Bairro Peixoto in the Copacabana section of Rio de Janeiro, just blocks way from the famous beach.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.

Contact me @JeromeShaw or Facebook


copyright Jerome Shaw 2006 / www.jeromeshaw.com

"Boys of an Eternal Summer" - Jardim Redentor, Rio de Janeiro , Brazil

These boys interrupted their football game to pose for me through a hole in the playground fence.

"Boys of an Eternal Summer" Jardim Redentor, Rio de Janeiro , Brazil

Four boys take a break from their football game to pose for photo through a hole in the playground fence.

I took many walks around the streets of Jardim Redentor during my three visits to this area. I enjoyed seeing the vibrancy of the people as they lived out their lives. I am from a very small town in Southwestern Nebraska and at times Jardim Redentor reminded me of my tiny home town, Hayes Center. Well .... except for all the people, as there were only about 250 residents in Hayes Center when I last visited. I know I saw more people on the streets in Jardim Redentor within the first few blocks of any of my walks. Yet, the feeling of small town community existed on the streets of Jardim Redentor.

The photo was taken with a Olympus D590 digital camera on automatic exposure and the lens on wide angle.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.

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copyright Jerome Shaw 2005-2013 / www.jeromeshaw.com

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"The Real Girl from Ipanema?" Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Street art in  Praca do Arpoador (Arpoador Park) in between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches depicts a humorous vision of the Real Girl from Ipanema.

"The Real Girl from Ipanema?"

This street art is located between Ipanema and Copacabana in Praca do Arpoador (Arpoador Park) near the beach. I am not sure the exact translation of the text on the wall but basically it suggests that this is what the true girls from Ipanema are like. I 'd have to say that this depiction, while humorous, is not entirely accurate.

The Velosos Bar-Cafe (now the Garota de Ipanema) is located a half mile away on Rua Vinícius de Moraes. It is here that Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes were purported regulars. Jobim first witnessed at tall tan girl pass by Velosos.  It was 17 year old Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto that Jobim saw stroll by on here daily errands as well as on her way to the beach.  Jobim was inspired to write the music to "The Girl from Ipanema", Moraes penned the Portuguese lyrics and Heloísa became the original girl from Ipanema.

The photo was taken with a Nikon F100 film camera using a 28-200mm f 4.5 Tamaron lens. The film used for this image is FujiPress 800. The approximate exposure is f 8 @ 1/250th second.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission. Non-commercial Facebook & Pinterest shares are permitted

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Street Art in Ipanema - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Originally Posted: : Dec 7, 2006 3:53 PM

copyright Jerome Shaw 2006 / www.jeromeshaw.com

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"A Toothy Grin" - Jardim Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"A Toothy Grin"

Robert flashes a toothy grin when I turn the camera on him on Rua Coelho Branco, Jardim Redentor. Robert is the brother of sisters Jennifer and Beatriz from the photo "You want a photo of ME?" published previously here on Travel Boldly.

Robert was plenty mad at me when he found out that I had brought his sisters a copy of the photo I had taken of them but had not brought one of him. Unfortunately, Robert's photo was shot earlier on a film camera and was not available until I returned to Colorado. I owe Robert a photo and will mail it soon. I look forward to seeing him again on my next trip to Brazil.

Condensed caption:
"A Toothy Grin"
Robert flashes a toothy grin on Rua Coelho Branco, Jardim Redentor,
Rio de Janeiro. Robert is probably still mad at me for bringing a photo
for his sisters but not for him. I'll get that photo to you Robert, I promise

This image was featured in my recent shows as a 13" x 19" / 33cm x 48cm digital print. Prints available for purchase

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.

Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 

copyright Jerome Shaw 2005/ www.jeromeshaw.com

"Red Fish Grey Skies" - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Red Fish ...Grey Skies"

Open-air market in Bairro Peixoto, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A market provides a endless supply of subjects. The people, the colors, the fruit, and well .... the fish. The subdued light of a heavy overcast enhances the colorless background and makes the red in the fish standout from the drab surroundings. The stark composition of this photo is enhanced by a limited color palette.

The photo was taken with a Nikon F100 film camera using a 180 mmmm f 2.8 Nikkor lens. The film used for this image is FujiPress 800. The approximate exposure is f 5.6 @ 1/250th second.

This image was featured in my recent shows as a 13" x 19" / 33cm x 48cm digital print. Prints available for purchase.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.

Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 

copyright Jerome Shaw 2006 / www.jeromeshaw.com

"Maisa in the Mirror" Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Maisa in the Mirror" B&W photograph from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Maisa in the Mirror"

Sometimes photos just appear without any direction and you just have to be savvy enough to see them. This photo appeared and disappeared in seconds. I managed two frames before Maisa noticed me taking pictures and the opportunity evaporated. The moment of a photograph is transient and moments in life are ephemeral, it is with photography that we can arrest the relentless assault of time. The image embodies a sensibility of an earlier era though it was taken in 2005.

This image was featured in my exhibit as a 24" x 36" / 60cm x 90cm digital print. Prints available for purchase.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.

Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 


copyright Jerome Shaw 2005 / www.jeromeshaw.com

"Maisa's Lips" Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A sensual black and white photo created while I was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Maisa's Lips"

Though not technically a travel photo, this images was created while I was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil covering a conference on sustainable tourism. It was an instant favorite of mine, nearly jumping off the contact sheet after I developed the film.

A simple subject, simple lighting, a simple composition create a sensual image. While "Shadow Nude" employed a multiple lights in a complex arrangement this photo uses the simplest of lighting, window light, to accent the softness of the feminine form. Maisa is a favorite model of mine and I created many images with her in B&W and color over the month plus I was living in Rio.

Photographed in my apartment on Barrata Ribeirro in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro Brazil using a Nikon F100 and B&W film.

Cropped detail of "Maisa's Lips" 

This image was featured in my one man shows as a 40" x 60" / 100cm x 150cm digital print and is now in a private collection. It is very dramatic at this large size, which accentuates the soft textural qualities of image. Prints available for purchase.

These images are copyrighted and may not be used, re-posted or reproduced without direct written permission.


Contact me at @JeromeShaw  or Facebook 

"I haven't seen the Southern Cross since ever so long ago!" ~ Rudyard Kipling

Playing in the surf on Copacabana Beach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Jerome Shaw

Rudyard Kipling
"The Friends"

I had some friends --- but I dreamed that they were dead ---
Who used to dance with lanterns round a little boy in bed.
Green and white lanterns that waved to and fro:
And I haven't seen a Firefly now since ever so long ago!

I had some friends --- their crowns were in the sky ---
Who used to nod and whisper when a little boy went by,
As the nuts began to tumble and the breeze began to blow:
And I haven't seen a Coco-palm since ever so long ago!

I had a friend --- he came up from Cape Horn,
With a Coal-sack on his shoulder when a little boy was born:
He heard me learn to talk, and he helped me thrive and grow:
And I haven't seen the Southern Cross since ever so long ago!

I had a boat --- I out and let her drive,
Till I found my dreams were foolish, and my friends were all alive.
The Coco-palms were real, and the Southern Cross was true:
And the Fireflies were dancing --- so I danced too!

Rudyard Kipling

from Brazilian Sketches

Sunset on Ipanema Beach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Photographs copyright Jerome Shaw 2005 / www.JeromeShaw.com